Vishaka Withdraw From CPL-What Next For Football In The Kingdom?
Friday night drama as Vishaka withdraws….
The 8th March is globally known as International Women’s Day, here in Cambodia or will forever be known from now as the day Vishaka banged the final nail in the CPL coffin.
The news was announced on social media with no reason given initially as to why Vishaka made such a big move. It later transpired that due to an unsatisfactory legal process was the cause. Visaka had appealed against a decision that was given offside in the recent cup semi final against Phnom Penh Crown. The unfairness of the appeal process and total incompetence of the organization in charge is said to be the last straw for Vishaka who decided they would not be part of this shambles anymore.
The first team withdrawing from the Hun Sen Cup see final and the Premier League as well as the B team withdrawing from League Two. The youth teams and womens team, both of whom are fancied highly to win their respective competitions, also will not be taking part.
The Precedent has already been set in terms of punishment…
Less than six weeks ago Angkor City from League Two were forced to forfeit a game due to financial issues and were subsequently fined $1000 and banned for one year for doing so. Vishaka are due to play four more league games, one Hun Sen Cup game whilst the B team still has three games to play in League Two. This total of eight games would surely mean that a fine of $8000 and 8 year ban would need to be handed down. Anything less than that would surely mean they would need to revoke the punishment given to Angkor City or show themselves up to be the spineless, incompetent mess that many accuse them of being already.
The integrity of the league is up in the air…
With the case of the Angkor City they were also removed from the league and all their results and stats also removed. If CPL are to follow this then we took a look at what things would look like.
The Cambodian Premier League table would not be too different than it does now. The minor differences being Svay Rieng would already be champions, ISI and Boeung Ket would be booked into the play off semi finals already and Angkor Tiger would be a place higher. It should be noted at time of writing Tiger lost to Prey Veng and would be a place down again.
As for League Two, with Vishaka B being pulled out and all their results being withdrawn it would surely throw the whole of the season into disarray and all second division teams would be well within their rights to be considering legal action against CPL for loss of earnings and damages.
Surely the end for CPL as a year of turmoil cannot be ignored….
In December 2021 when CPL took control of the league there was an estimated $3m in funding, a fourteen team premier league, ten team second division and a healthy tv deal in place with BTV. In which every game was shown live across social media every weekend.
In the first season we saw the premier league with eight teams and a second division with twelve teams but with games from the premier league only to be shown on TV. At the end of 2022 CPL announced a 10 month break in before the start of the next season in order to facilitate a League Cup and give clubs a chance to comply with club license regulations.
What happened next was unprecedented in football seen anywhere in the world as eight clubs decided against playing anymore. EDC, Asia Europe United, Soltilo and Koh Kong all closed their doors whilst provincial clubs such as Banteay Meanchey & Tbong Khnum decided to play just Hun Sen Cup.
In August 2023 it was a total mess with teams from the top division being asked to play B teams in the second division. CPL yeah treatment of Angkor City may come back to haunt them. This small but enthusiastic club were doing everything they could to play games and meet the ridiculous demands of CPL in order to compete at this level. When they finally were unable to do so they were punished and banished to the wilderness. Now one of the giants of Cambodian football have given them two fingers it will be a mammoth task for them to keep going whilst saving face. Oh and the $3m in budget we mentioned earlier, well you would need to ask CPL where the money was spent but what we do know for sure is Satoshi was removed for not taking enough care of it.
Whatever happens next, it goes without saying that we’re now so far behind where we were when CPL started that everyone is wondering why we haven’t appointed someone that knows what they’re doing and understands the Khmer culture and football landscape.
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Author: Adam Reeves
An avid traveler and telecommunications expert, Adam has explored over 25 countries, immersing himself in their cultures to discover the best they offer. His passion for connecting people extends from his professional life to his adventures abroad.
